NCAA Rules Kentucky Forward Enes Kanter Permanently Ineligible

Unlike the past few years where the NCAA cleared a John Calipari player before the season and then things were questioned after the season finished, they have ruled on freshman forward Enes Kanter early on. A press release says “The NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff has ruled University of Kentucky men’s basketball student-athlete Enes Kanter permanently ineligible for receiving benefits above his actual and necessary expenses while playing for a club basketball team in Turkey.”

New NCAA rules allow potential student-athletes to play with professionals but they’re not allowed to get paid more than is necessary to cover expenses such as food and transportation. The NCAA determined Kanter received over $33,000 more than what was necessary, suggesting he was a professional player thereby wiping out his amateur status.

Kentucky plans to appeal the ruling with a reinstatement committee at the end of the month. The committee has the power to reduce or remove the condition, so Kentucky at least has that going for it. The Wildcats weren’t planning on playing Kanter until he was cleared and it now appears as if they won’t have him around period.